How to Persuade Yourself to Work Out
By Sara Butler
You can have the best intentions when it comes to exercise but when the time arrives to hit the gym, your motivation goes flat. Yes, getting motivated to workout is half the battle when it comes to developing a regular exercise routine. But rest assured, even those that work out regularly have days where they simply don't feel like it. It's what they do during those times to help them push past the wall that makes all the difference. Here are some tips you can use to help you persuade yourself to workout.
Just Do 10 Minutes
It can be a much larger mental hump to get over to try to convince yourself to workout for 30 minutes, so put less pressure on yourself. Instead, simply take 10 minutes (or even 5) and do something physical such as walking in place or squats. You could also break a longer workout up into smaller chunks, such as 10 minutes of walking three times per day if that's more your speed. As long as you move for some amount of time, you have to remember that something is better than nothing.
Take a Picture
If you need another reminder of how important exercise is to your health and wellness, then look at a picture of yourself. Whether it's a picture of you at your fittest that helps to encourage you to keep going or a picture of yourself where a few improvements could be made, find what motivates you and put it to work.
Change the Scenery
Where you are can have a huge impact on your state of mind. You may not be able to hit the gym right now and that's OK, but you also may experience a mental block if you've been in your home for months on end.
The solution? Simply go to another room to workout or go outside when the weather permits. A change of scenery can have a big impact on your state of mind and help to motivate you to get your workout done. If you have a room in your home you can designate as your workout room, then that's even better.
Think About After
When you're done exercising, you feel pretty good. Try to remember how exercising makes you feel when it's all over and that may be the push you need to get started.
Remember, moving your body is the most important thing you can do for your health, so do what you must to get more movement in your day.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Fairfax, Va.